San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey suffered a season-ending knee injury, with coach Kyle Shanahan confirming that he’ll miss about six weeks. This means rookie Isaac Guerendo will be the starting RB for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears, alongside practice squad back Patrick Taylor Jr.
McCaffrey initially injured his right knee while playing against Buffalo on Monday night, and was later placed on injured reserve. His backup, Jordan Mason, also suffered a high ankle sprain in the same game, making it likely that he’ll spend the rest of the season on IR.
Shanahan expressed frustration with McCaffrey’s injury, but praised his player’s toughness and work ethic. McCaffrey had been rounding into form after missing several games due to bilateral Achilles tendinitis.
The 49ers’ latest move is adding running back Israel Abanikanda off waivers from the New York Jets. Mason finishes his season as the leading rusher for San Francisco, with 789 yards and three touchdowns, while Guerendo will look to build on his promising rookie season with the team.
Other injury updates include cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, who is expected to return to practice this week after missing the Buffalo game. Defensive tackle Jordan Elliott and guard Aaron Banks are still in the concussion protocol, while Nick Bosa and Trent Williams’ status will be evaluated day-to-day.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/42742843/49ers-rbs-christian-mccaffrey-jordan-mason-headed-ir